Versa 3 heartrate low inaccurate during exercise

[refturner]

I work out very intensely, boot camp, spin, rowing. My old Ionic tended to shoot a little high on heart rate & calorie burn. 

My new Versa 3 (had it for 6 months now) tends to show VERY LOW heart rate numbers and, consequently, calorie burn. 

By way of example, did an intense rowing machine workout; the Versa 3 estimated I burned 6 calories per minute.  Normally I expect to burn 10+ per minute of intense exercise. Then I walked my old 14 YO dog; the Versa 3 said I burned 7 calories per minute, while ambling along with the old dog.

What's up Fitbit? Can you fix this?

[Sebeths]

I’m right there with you all. I am so, so sick of this issue with the heart rate. It makes the entire product basically useless. I had better luck with a cheap sport watch that I paid $30 for. I wanted a Fitbit for all the other features. But they’ve got to fix the heart rate issue.

at the peak of my work out I’ll manually take my heart rate at 140, the Fitbit is reading 109. Double check it with a heart rate monitor on a machine it’s spot on. Get it together Fitbit

[skiracer]

Same problem here.  Tight band loose band, multiple positions on wrist - never works. I’ve compared it other devices, manually taking my pulse when working out, etc  Always low - therefore the data is bad. Fit bit needs to acknowledge the problem and recall the Versa 3. My Versa 2 worked fine. Versa 3 is a waste of money. 

[goister]

OTOH, it can also be tricked into a higher HR simply by swinging your arm quickly. It seems like the Versa 3 takes into account movement rather than just the HR sensor input. If I'm swinging kettlebells with a slow cadence, the detected HR can be barely above rating HR due to the slow swinging cadence, even if my actual HR is high. If I'm simply swinging my arms on the spot, the reverse is true. 

[MarkMM]

@goister Swinging the arm helped with every other Fitbit I've had, but the Versa 3. I tried swinging my arms very hard and couldn't get the Versa 3 over 90 BPM walking hard. I also tried swinging my arm to "wake it up" during under performing bike rides. Didn't help. Support didn't think it was an isolated case as I wasn't eligible for a replacement. 

[pmacca101]

Versa 3 is my third Fitbit and very likely my last. I returned my first Versa 3 due to the issue of heart rate inaccuracy, only to find the second one is exactly the same. 

No accuracy, why bother trying to track anything. 

The heart rate is completely inaccurate while exercising. For the most part it is low. I can walk up a hill and it barely changes, and 1 minute after climbing the hill, its 15 bpm higher than when i was climbing the hill. My heart rate is often higher, 5 minutes after I finish exercising than during the exercise itself. 

I won't go into all the different things that were proposed to me as to find a fix, but I will comment that Customer Service responses are often ludicrous. Recently one customer service person told me not to expect the Versa 3 to be accurate while I was moving 🙂 

Youtube is full of videos highlighting the inaccuracy of the Versa 3 versus pretty much any other smart watch on the market. 

While I am upset at myself for not doing enough research on the Versa 3 before purchasing, I feel that the companies approach is generating a massive amount of badwill. I can't imagine it being a competitor in the market long term. 

I don't hold out a lot of hope of Fitbit fixing the issue. I fear there is something structurally wrong with the technology. 

[wynmead]

How disappointed I am, to read all these posts. Migrated from my charge 3 to the Versa 3. Heart low. Maxed out at 105 or so in an intense workout. This is the first time I have used it in the gym so it's brand new. What is so annoying is that this problem has been reported for ages and yet it has not been fixed. Hopeless. I'll try wearing it tighter and further up the arm and if that does not work back she goes.

[Spbike]

Don’t waste your time. The heart rate is extremely inaccurate. When I lift weights, my heart rate is 10-15 bpm below my resting heart rate. Changing where it sits on your wrist and tightening it does not help. By the way, when I wore my Ionic, before it was recalled, my heart rate when I was lifted was a good 25% higher. Fitbit doesn’t care to get it right it would appear.

Sent from my iPad

[Rufous44]

I want to be frank: having seeing the total lack of respect by Fitbit towards to its users i think we should boycott the company. How can we trust a company that keeps selling its devices although not fit for purpose. And they definitely know it!!!

[Sebeths]

OK you definitely win the prize. That is the craziest Versa3 story I’ve heard so far. That’s just ridiculous

[Spbike]

Hey Fitbit, obviously there is an issue with the Versa 3 and heart rate, and it's not isolated to a few individuals.  These postings say that we have all tried the various remedies you recommend, and they don't work.  We are getting low heart rate readings while engaged in all levels of physical exertion.  How about responding to the group, and not with the same recommendations about positioning the Versa 3 on the wrist, tightening the band, etc.  Either provide a solution or admit that there is an issue with the Versa 3 and recall them.  I for one find almost no value in wearing the Versa 3 and am sorry I returned my Ionic.

[Ashokabs]

The Versa 3 is junk as far as HR is concerned. Anyone exercising seriously wouldn't use this watch. It either reads wrong or lags substantially. I echo all the other posts in this community. Looks like the company has given up on this watch as the new ones have been released. Probably no resolution is possible but they won't admit it. It is a shame on Google as well which owns Fitbit now.